Sustainable startup Notpla has created an edible, biodegradable packaging constructed from seaweed and crops that was designed to interchange plastic.
Notpla’s eponymous packaging has been shortlisted for this yr’s Dezeen Awards within the sustainable design class.
Its title is a shortening of “not plastic,” referring to the truth that whereas it appears plastic, the product is definitely constructed from seaweed and crops.
Branding company Superunion coined Notpla’s title in addition to a visible id for the startup. This consists of an animated emblem that resembles a vessel filling up with water that’s solely seen when “stuffed” – as is the case with clear packaging.
“Notpla is a seaweed-based, sustainable packaging startup on a mission to make packaging as we all know it disappear naturally,” Superunion senior artistic director Mark Wooden instructed Dezeen.
“Yearly, 8 million tonnes of plastic are dumped within the oceans. The world’s behaviours want to alter in relation to single-use plastic,” he defined.
In accordance with Notpla’s designers, the fabric is completely biodegradable and edible and may be composted at residence in 4 to 6 weeks.
To this point, the packaging has been used to create skinny movies and coating for cardboard takeaway packing containers, as nicely sachets for condiments.
Notpla says seaweed is a sustainable materials from which to create packaging as a result of the underwater plant doesn’t must compete with meals crops for land, and likewise sequesters carbon dioxide – the method of eradicating it from the environment.
The startup can also be behind Ooho, that are sachets constructed from Notpla designed to be consumed by runners throughout sporting occasions.
In 2019, Ooho was trialled on the London Marathon the place runners had been supplied the sachets, which had been crammed with Lucozade sports activities drink, whereas they ran.
The Notpla designers have additionally created smaller-scale variations of Ohoo which can be meant to carry liquids comparable to toothpaste, espresso and suncream.
“The final word intention is to cease billions of single-use plastic packaging from ever being made by offering a constructive different,” Wooden stated. “We imagine Notpla has the potential to show the tide on plastic waste.”
Previously referred to as Skipping Rock Lab earlier than Superunion rebranded it, Notpla was based by Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez and Pierre Paslier in 2014 whereas the pair had been learning Innovation Design Engineering.
Different initiatives nominated within the Dezeen Awards sustainable class embody Honext panels, that are constructed from recycled cardboard and paper sludge, and Alive, an natural prototype for structure that promotes human well being.
The photographs are courtesy of Notpla and Superunion.
Undertaking credit:
Senior artistic director: Mark Wooden
Designer: Ilaria Celata
Senior account supervisor: Nicola Bennett-Cook dinner
Co-founder: Pierre Paslier
Co-founder: Rodrigo Gonzales
Co-founder: Lise Honsinger
